6.24 Abby Wambach: Be a Great Teammate

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“No I or individual is better than the team. I've scored no goals just on my own. Every goal I've ever scored has been because of someone else on my team, their excellence, their bravery. And I'm kind of the end product of a collection of a really good vibe, and feeling, and creativity on the field.” - Abby Wambach

I heard a group of former athletes talking about the importance of having great teammates. They were talking about how both Michael Jordan and Shaquille O’Neal were dominating the NBA but didn’t win a championship until the Bulls drafted (traded for) for Scottie Pippen and the Lakers traded for Kobe Bryant.

Once they got championship teammates, they started winning championships.

The same happened with Kobe. When Shaq left the Lakers for Miami, he didn’t win another championship until the Lakers got Pau Gasol.

Championship teams have championship teammates.

Soccer star Abby Wambach was one of the best goal scorers in the history of American soccer. She once said, “No I or individual is better than the team. I've scored no goals just on my own. Every goal I've ever scored has been because of someone else on my team, their excellence, their bravery. And I'm kind of the end product of a collection of a really good vibe, and feeling, and creativity on the field.”

The former world player of the year and clutch goal scorer knows the value and impact of having great teammates. Great achievements are rarely solo acts, and having great teammates starts with you being a great teammate.

We are all part of multiple teams—sports teams, school teams, work teams, and family teams—so we have opportunities all the time to be good teammates to others.

Question of the Day: Who can you be a better teammate to or with, and how?

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